Rory McIlroy vs. Bryson DeChambeau in Masters Sunday main event, with a side of Corey Conners

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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy is “out of his mind right now!”

That was the call from CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz as the Northern Irish superstar became the first player in Masters history to begin a round with five consecutive threes on his scorecard.

Birdie-Eagle-Birdie-Par-Birdie. 3-3-3-3-3.

He would add yet another three at the par-3 sixth hole for good measure.

Beginning moving day at Augusta National tied for third-place at six-under and playing alongside Canadian Corey Conners, McIlroy catapulted himself into a three-shot lead with his historic start.

After giving two shots back midway through the round, McIlroy threw down another signature moment with a majestic second shot 6-iron at the par-5 15th to set up his second eagle of the day and extend his lead over Conners to four strokes.

McIlroy finished the day with his second 66 in a row, and heads to Sunday’s final round with a two-shot lead over reigning U.S. Open champ Bryson DeChambeau. It’s just the fourth time in the past 30 years that two multiple major champions will face off in the final group on Sunday at the Masters.

“I came in here talking about being the most complete version of myself as a golfer, and you know, I just have to keep reminding myself of that and remind myself that no matter what situation or scenario I find myself in tomorrow, I’ll be able to handle it,” McIlroy said.

This week, McIlroy bounced back fabulously after two double bogeys down the closing stretch on Thursday sent him back to level-par after the opening round. Thursday looked to be yet another chapter in the four-time major winner’s book of Masters woe.

It was anything but.

“It’s gone. It’s two days ago. You can’t do anything about it,” McIlroy said about Thursday’s mistakes. “I didn’t even think about it.”

McIlroy made his first bogey since that opening round at the par-5 eighth hole on Saturday, to drop back to 10-under, before giving another shot back with a three-putt at the 10th.

Canadian Conners caught fire at the turn making three consecutive birdies beginning at No. 8 to jump into a tie for second with Bryson DeChambeau at 8-under, just one stroke back of the lead.

Conners heads to Sunday in solo third place at 8-under.

DeChambeau closed with a fury with birdies on Nos. 15, 16 and 18 to reach 10-under.

“It was great. It was just electric,” DeChambeau said. “You can get chills in your body. You just feel euphoria, almost, in a sense. Just it feels really cool.

“Now, it’s Saturday, right. So I have to tell myself, Okay, calm down. This is not the end. One more day to go.”

Two shots behind Conners, and six off the lead, are Patrick Reed and Ludvig Aberg at 6-under. Scottie Scheffler headlines a group of four major champions at 5-under.

McIlroy hasn’t won a major championship in 11 years and is a green jacket shy of joining golf’s most elite club by winning the career grand slam.

There is always magic at Augusta National, and this year golf fans get their dream final pairing.

“It will be the grandest stage that we’ve had in a long time, and I’m excited for it,” DeChambeau said. “We both want to win really, really badly.”